Process of making bladders for footballs and the like



NOV. 24, 1936. A E K 2,062,248

PROCESS OF MAKING BLADDERS FOR FOOTBALLS AND THE LIKE Original Filed Aril 15, 1934 .3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGJ INVENTOR ALBERT F. HECK ATTORNEYSNev. 24, 1936.

PROCESS OF MAKING BLADDERS FOR FOOTBALLS AND THE LIKE Original FiledApril 13, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ALBERT F. HECK- oMu/i 14152ATTORNEYS A. F. HECK 2,062,248

Nov. 24, 1936.

A. F. HECK 2,052,248

PROCESS OF MAKING BLADDERS FOR FOOTBALLS AND THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3Original Filed April 13, 1934 INVENTOR ALBERT F. HECK Ma Ma ATTORNEYSPatented Nov. 24, 1936 PATENT OFFICE PROCESS OF MAKING BLADDERS FORFOOTBALLS AND THE LIKE Albert F. Heck, Amsterdam, N. Y., assignor to TheCollette Manufacturing Company, Amsterdam, N. Y., a corporation of NewYork Original application April 13, 1934, Serial No.

Divided and this application November 30, 1935, Serial No. 52,352

r 8 Claims. My invention relates to a bladder for footbaHs,

basketballs, play balls and the like and the process of manufacturingsame, and is a division of my copending applicationSer. No. 720,498,filed April.

Heretofore difiiculty has been encountered in applying to a rubberbladder the bladder inflation valve and also securing to the sections ofa rubber bladder and over the seams thereof a rubber reinforcing tape toprevent rupture in the normal operation of the same. This invention isnot only intended to overcome these 'difliculties but also to lessenvery materially the cost of manufacture of rubber bladders by doingaway, among other things, with the necessity of resorting to buffing,roughening and similar operations, as in the past, which are not onlytroublesome, but relatively expensive.

Insofar as the structure of the finished article itself is concerned,that will be readily understood from a detailed description of myprocess of manufacture of such article. To facilitate the description ofmy process and to enable the same to be more readily understood I have,as far as it is possible to do so, illustrated the various steps thereofon the drawings in the order in which these steps preferably occur inthe actual practice of my process. Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates two superimposed sheets of uncured rubber fromwhich the bladder sections are stamped out.

Figure 2 illustrates diagrammatically a die for simultaneously stampingout and cut-seaming the blanks'or sections from the sheets shown in 3Figure 1, it being understood that the mechanism for stamping out thesesections may be so constructed as to' stamp out any number thereof atthe same time.

Figure 3 illustrates two'sections of the bladder 40 stamped out andcut-seamed from the sheets shown in Figure 1, and also illustrates thetwo sections-of the bladder in condition to have their outer surfacescured at this stage.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing a perforation made in oneof the sections to receive the body of the bladder inflation valve.

Figure 5 illustrates the sections of the bladder turned inside outthrough the bladder perforation to expose the uncured sides of the saidsec- 50 tions. The general shape and configuration which the bladderassumes whengturned inside out, due to the cut-seam which is now ontheinside thereof, is also shown in this figure. Figure 6 illustrates thebladder with the body 55 ofthe bladder inflation valve inserted into theperforation and the annular rubber attaching flange thereof secured tothe perforated section around the perforation therein in accordance withmy invention.

Figure 7 is a section of the bladder and the 5 bladder inflation valvetaken on the line 1-1 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 illustrates the bladder partially inflated to round out theseam, and mounted in asuitable rotating holder, to facilitate andacceler- 10 ate the application by suitable pressure to the surface ofthe bladder sections and over the seam thereof of a rubber reinforcingtape.

Referring to the drawings in detail and first to Figures 1 and 2thereof, the reference numerals 15 I0 and II designate two superimposedsheets of uncured rubber, just as they come from the calender machines.Any suitable means may be'employed'to prevent the superimposed sheetsfrom sticking to each other. To enable blanks or bladder sections to becut from these superimposed sheets any suitable support, such as thatindicated by the reference numeral I2, is provided. The referencenumeral l3 designates diagrammatically a die or other suitable form ofcutter, equipped with a knife edge It, for simultaneously stamping outand cut-seaming from the sheets l0 and H of sections [5 and I6 (seeFigure 3) in the shape, for instance, of a football bladder. Only onedie or cutter is illustrated, but it will 3 be understood that anynumber of these dies or cutters may be employed to simultaneously stampout a number of sections in sequence or at one and the same time. Theknife edge I4 is preferably so shaped as to squeeze together andhermetically weld the edges of the uncured sections cut thereby.Furthermore, in order to provide a more uniform and more effective weld,the knife edge l4 should be preferably heated to a suitable temperature.Those skilled in the art will know 40 what the shape of the cutting edgeshould be, as well as the temperature thereof to be maintained, in orderto secure a proper weld and which becomes the seam of the two bladdersections which go to make up the bladder. It will thereforebeappreciated from the foregoing that in the operation of the die l3,two sections are simultaneously cut from the sheets l0 and Hand properlyseamed. This operation of the die to simultaneously cut blanks orsections from sheets I0 5 and II is called cut-seaming; thatis,-aftersaid operation the sections are said to be .cutseamed,

The two sections stamped out andcut-seamed as, described above, :areillustrated in Figure 3.

After'these sections are stamped out and cutseamed, the outside surfacesof these sections are then cured in any suitable way, but preferably bymeans of acid fumes. It will be noted, however, that the inner sides ofthese sections are not accessible to the acid fumes and therefore remainin an uncured state. As these sections are hermetically sealed to eachother there is no danger of the insides thereof being cured; hence theyneed not i be used immediately after they are stamped from the sheets l0and II. In fact they may be stored for a reasonable length of time. Thesignificance of this will appear from what follows.

When the two sheets of cured rubber are calendered suitable means, suchas powder, is employed to prevent them from sticking after which one issuperimposed upon the other and sections thereof are simultaneously diedout to form a bladder having an air tight compartment between the twosections. When the bladder is subjected to acid fumes for curing thesurface on the outside of the sections the acid fumes cannot come incontact with the inner surface of the sections, that is incontact withthe inside of the bladder to cause a glazed surface which has to bebuffed off to cause material to adhere to it. In this specification theword "uncured refers to this condition on the inner surface of thesections. Where acid fumes are employed for the curing in the mannerabove described the curing only goes to a certain depth,'at least it canbe controlled in this respect so as to leave the inner sides of thesections uncured or only semi-cured, whereas in curing" rubber by heattreatment the entire body of the rubber is cured.

After the outside of the bladder has been cured in the manner justdescribed, the nextstep in the process is to provide a perforation l Iin one of the sections thereof, as illustrated in Figure 4, for thepurpose of attaching a bladder inflation valve.

I However, before the bladder inflation valve is secured to saidsection, the sections of the bladder are turned inside out through theperforation H with the result that the cured surface of the sections ofthe bladder are now on theinside and the uncured surfaces are on theoutside. The general shape assumed by the bladder itself after it hasbeen turned inside out, as just described, is illustrated in Figure 5.It assumes this general contour or configuration because the projectingportion of the cut-seam is now on the inside and causes buckling.

After the bladder has been turned inside out, as described in thepreceding paragraph, the next step of the process preferably consists insecuring to the perforated section of the bladder the bladder inflationvalve, as shown in Figures 6 and '7. This valve is generally designatedin Figure 6 by the reference numeral [8 and comprises a stem l9 (seeFigure 7) and an annular rubber flange 20 mounted upon the stem andadapted to serve as a means of permanently securing the valve to thebladder. On the inner end of the stem I9 is the valve proper 2 I, andthe type illustrated comprises a rubber member having a normally closedopening 22 to prevent the exit of air from the interior of the bladder.Any suitable pumping means may be employed to inflate the bladder atwill and in order to deflate the same it is only necessary to insert theproper shape of tool to expand the opening 22, as will be understood.Any form of bladder inflation valve may be employed, and I do not isequipped with an annular rubber or similar flange to enable it to besecured to the bladder.

After the body 2| of the bladder valve has been inserted into theperforation H, the annular rubber flange of the bladder valve is thenapplied by suitable pressure to the uncured surface of the perforatedsection about the perforation thereof. Before the annular flange isapplied to the bladder the zone around the perforation I1 is preferablycleaned, as by means of gasoline, of impurities. Any suitable cleansingfluid may be employed, but I find by the use of naphtha or gasoline onthe uncured surface, said surface becomes quite clean and sticky, andtherefore admirably adapted to cohere to the annular rubber flange 20.The side of the flange 20 facing the bladder is buffed and then coatedwitha suitable cement and when this cemented surface is pressed againstthe cleaned uncured surface of the bladder, an air-tight, du-

rable weld is effected between said flange and the I outer surface ofthe bladder. Cement may also be bladder with suitable reinforcing means.Therefore the next step, to be described, consists in applying areinforce 23 to the cut-seam of the bladder., Bearing in mind that theouter surface of the bladder is uncured, the bladder is now partiallyinflated, as shown in Figure 8, in order to round out the seam from theshape it assumes when the bladder is completely deflated as illustratedin Figure 6. After being partially inflated, the bladder is inserted, ormounted, in work holders 24 and 25 mounted in suitable trunnions 26 and2'! and adapted to be rotated, either manually or mechanically, not onlyto facilitate the cleaning of the uncured surface adjacent the seam, butalso in applying by suitablepressure to said cleaned uncured surface ofsaid sections and over the seam thereof, the uncured side of the rubberreinforcing tape 23. The seam may be rounded out by means other thanpartially inflating the bladder.

'From the foregoing it will be seen that I have devised a process whichcomprises cut-seaming from two superimposed sheets of uncured rubber,two sections thereof in the shape of a bladder, curing the outsidesurfaces of the bladder sections, so cut-seamed, perforating one of saidsections and turning said sections inside out through the saidperforation to expose the uncured sides of said sections. Thereafter thebladder inflation valve 18 is preferably secured to the bladder and;specifically stated, this comprises the cleaning of a zone of theuncured surface of the perforated section around the perforationtherein, inserting into said perforation the body 2| of the bladdervalve, which bladder valve is equipped with an annular rubber attachingflange 20 having cement coated on the side thereof facing the bladder,and then securing. the cemented side of said rubber flange by suitablepressure to said cleaned uncured zone of said section. My process, as itwill be seen from the foregoing, also contemplates the steps ofreinforcing the seam of the bladder and this, specifically, comprisescleaning the uncured surface of the sections adjacent the seam as bynaphtha or gasoline and then applying by suitable pressure to saiduncured surface of said' sections and over the seam thereof, the uncuredside of a rubber reinforcing tape 23. This makes a very effective weldbetween the reinforcing tape and the bladder. In lieu of employing arubber reinforcing tape one side of which is uncured, I may employ arubber tape, both sides of which are 5 cured but in that event it willbe necessary to bufi one side of the tape and to employ a suitablerubber cement or other cohesive means on the buffed side of the tape toeffect a proper securing means between said tape and the uncured surfaceof the sections about theseam of the bladder.

It makes no difference in the practice of my process of applying thetape 23 what type or kind of valve I8 is employed nor how the same isse-, cured to the bladder. Furthermore the valve 18' need notnecessarily be secured to the bladder until after the tape is applied.

From the foregoing it will be seen also that I have devised a bladderfor a football and the like which comprises two cut-seamed rubber sec-20 tions anda reinforce for said seam comprising a rubber tape attachedto said sections over said seam by means of cohesion between uncuredsurfaces of said sections and the uncured or buffed cemented side of atape facing said sections.

I have also devised a bladder for a football or the like which comprisesa valve equipped with an annular flange and through which valve said.bladder is adapted to be inflated, said rubber flange being secured, infact, welded, to said bladder by means of the cohesion betweenan'uncured zone of said bladder around the perforation therein and asuitable cement on the buffed side of said flange facing the bladder.

It will-also be seen from the foregoing, and

' as clearly illustrated in Figure 7, that by attaching the bladderinflation valve to the bladder in the manner hereinbefore described itis unnecessary to provide any means within the walls of the bladdercooperating with the body of the valve to 40 secure the valve in place.In other words, the valve is not secured in any fashion to the innerwall of the bladder.

After the bladder valve has been secured to the bladder in the mannerhereinbefore indicated and before the bladder has been partiallyinflated to tape the seam thereof, it is permitted to dry, and

I find that about an hours time is suitable. for' this purpose. A littletime should also be given to enable the reinforce to dry after itsapplication. Furthermore the exposure to the atmosphere of the uncuredoutside surface of the bladder will, in a short length of time, causesaid surface to become cured to the extent necessary for its use indevices of this kind.-

The tape employed to reinforce the cut-seam (sometimes called the edge)of the bladder is preferably cut from the same sheets from which thebladder sections are stamped.

It will be understood that many .changes may be made in points of detailand other modifications resorted to without deviating from the truescope and spirit of my invention.

What is claimed is 1. The process of manufacturing a bladder forfootballs and the like, which comprises cutseaming from two superimposedsheets of uncured rubber two sections thereof in the shape of a bladder,curing the outside surfaces of the sections so cut-seamed, perforatingone of said sections, turning said sections inside out through saidperforation to expose the uncured sides of said sections, and thenapplying by suitable pressure to said uncured surface of said sectionsand over the seam thereof a rubber reinforcing tape. 2. The process ofmanufacturing a bladder for footballs and the like, which comprisescutseaming from two superimposed sheets of uncured rubber two sectionsthereof in the shape of a bladder, curing the outside surfaces of thesections so cut-seamed, perforating one of said sec- 6 tions, turningsaid sections inside out through said perforation to expose the uncuredsides of said sections, attaching a bladder valve in said perforation,inflating said bladder sumciently through said valve to round out saidseam, and 10 then applying by suitable pressure to said uncured surfaceof said sections and over the seam thereof a rubber reinforcing tape.

3. The process of manufacturing a bladder for footballs and the like,which comprises cutl5 seaming from two superimposed sheets of uncuredrubber two sections thereof in the shape of a bladder, curing theoutside surfaces of the sections so cut-seamed, perforating one of saidsections, turning said sections inside out through 20 said perforationto expose the uncured sides of said sections, attaching a bladder valvein said perforation, inflating said bladder sumciently through saidvalve, to round out said seam, slowly rotating said bladder whilepartially inflated, and 25 while rotating said bladder applying bysuitable pressure to said uncured surface of said sections and over theseam thereof a rubber reinforcing tape.

4. The process of manufacturing a bladder for 30 footballs and the like,which comprises cut-seaming from two superimposed sheets of uncuredrubber two sections thereof in the shape of a bladder, curing theoutside surfaces of the sections so cut-seamed, perforating one of saidsec- 35 tions, turning said sections inside out through. saidperforation to expose the uncured sides of said sections, cleaning thesurface of said sides adjacent said. seam, and then applying by suitablepressure to said cleaned uncured surface of 40 said sections andv overthe seam thereof the uncured side'of arubber reinforcing tape.

5. The process of manufacturing a bladder for footballs and the like,which comprises cut-seaming from two superimposed sheets of uncured 45rubber two sections thereof in the shape of a bladder, curing theoutside surfaces of the sections so cut-seamed, perforating one of saidsections, turning said sections inside outthrough said perforation toexpose the uncured sides of said sec- 60 tions, attaching-a bladdervalve in said perforation, inflating said bladder sufllciently throughsaid valve to round out said seam, cleaning the surface of said sidesadjacent said seam, and then applying by suitable pressure to saidcleaned 56 uncured surface of said sections'and over the seam thereofthe uncured side of a rubber reinforcing tape.

6. The process of manufacturing a bladder for footballs and the like,which comprises cut-seam- 00 I ing from two superimposed sheets ofuncured face of said sectionsaifdbver the seam thereof the uncured sideof a rubber reinforcing tape.

'7. The process of manufacturing a bladder for footballs and the like,which comprises cut-seaming from two superimposed sheets of uncuredrubber two sections thereof in the shape of a bladder, curing theoutside surfaces of the sections so cut-seamed, perforating one of saidsections, turning said sections inside out through cured rubber twosections thereof in the shape of a bladder, curing the outside surfacesof the sections so cut-seamed, perforating one of said sections, turningsaid sections inside out through said perforation to expose the uncuredsides of said sections, cleaning a zone of the uncured surface of theperforated sections around the perforation therein, inserting into saidperforation a bladder valve equipped with an annular rubber attachingflange having cement on the side thereof facing the bladder, and thensecuringvthe cemented side of said rubber flange by suitable pressure tosaid cleaned uncured zone of said section.

ALBERT F. HECK.

